Guide · Kitchen
How long should a slow cooker or rice cooker last in Australia?
A slow cooker or rice cooker bought for around $80 should last about 4 years or more.
A slow cooker or rice cooker that stops heating or switches off by itself after a year or two is usually a fault.
That’s our guide, and plenty last longer.
The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid. If it fails sooner through no fault of yours, the shop that sold it has to put it right, even when the maker’s warranty has run out.
Takes a minute. It works out where you stand and what to say.
Is mine still covered?
Our guide to how long a slow cooker or rice cooker should last, by price:
| Price paid | Should last about |
|---|---|
| Up to $40 | 2 years |
| $40 to $100 | 4 years |
| $100 to $250 | 5 years |
| $250 to $500 | 7 years |
| Over $500 | 8 years |
For one bought around $80:
- Under 2 years: very likely covered.
- 2 years to 4 years: borderline, so worth asking.
- Over 4 years: harder, but it isn’t a cut-off.
These are guides, not law.
Signs it’s a fault
- It doesn’t heat, or heats unevenly
- The switch, timer or thermostat fails
- The inner pot coating peels or the lid cracks
What usually isn’t covered
- A pot scratched by metal utensils
- Using it with a cracked inner pot
- A change of mind, misuse, or a fault you knew about when you bought it.
What to do
- Find your proof of purchase. The receipt is best. A bank or card statement, an order email or a warranty registration also works.
- Go back to the shop you bought it from. Not the maker. The shop is responsible, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
- Say what’s wrong and what you want. For a minor problem, the shop can choose to repair it first. For a major one (it’s unsafe, or you wouldn’t have bought it if you’d known), you choose a refund or a replacement.
- If they say no, go up a step. Ask again politely, in writing if you can, and keep copies. Then contact your state or territory consumer protection agency. If you need to, your state tribunal is the next step.
What to say at the counter
“I bought a slow cooker or rice cooker here on [date]. [What’s wrong.] It hasn’t lasted as long as I’d reasonably expect for what I paid, so it isn’t of acceptable quality under the Australian Consumer Law. I’d like it repaired, replaced or refunded.”
A tip for a slow cooker or rice cooker
These are cheap, so go straight to the service desk with the lid and the pot. A quick ask is better than a letter here.
Check yours
It's Stuffed works out where you stand, helps you find your proof of purchase and writes what to say. It also keeps your receipts and warranties in one place, so you’re not hunting for them next time.
Common questions
How long should a slow cooker or rice cooker last?
By our guide, a slow cooker or rice cooker bought for around $80 should last about 4 years or more, and plenty last longer. The law doesn’t set a fixed number. Goods have to last as long as a reasonable person would expect, given what they are and what you paid.
Does the consumer guarantee still apply to a slow cooker or rice cooker after the warranty ends?
Yes. They’re separate from the maker’s warranty and from any extended warranty, and they don’t have an end date. What matters is whether it lasted as long as a reasonable person would expect for what it was and what it cost.
Who do I go to if a slow cooker or rice cooker fails, the shop or the maker?
The shop that sold it. The shop is responsible for putting it right under the consumer guarantees, and it can’t send you to the manufacturer instead.
Is it worth the bother if a slow cooker or rice cooker was cheap?
Yes. Cheap things are covered too, with no minimum price. A quick, polite ask at the service desk is usually the way to go. You’ll still need proof you bought it. A receipt, a bank or card statement or an order email will do.
More guides
- How long should an air fryer last?
- How long should a kettle last?
- How long should a toaster or sandwich press last?
- How long should a frypan or cookware set last?
- See all guides